The day has arrived. In 9 short hours (I'd better get to sleep!) we begin Day One of the annual Anomaly Harvest! We are all very excited (maybe that's why I'm still awake). Provisions are waiting (orange juice, cantalope, freshly-picked strawberries, grapes--the eating variety, homemade biscuits, coffee ready to be brewed), the scale is set up, the Weighmaster is ready (that's my job!) and now it's just the waiting until daybreak for the fun to begin. Photos and updates tomorrow (if the day ends at a reasonable time). Chantico!

We thought it might happen last week, then we thought--maybe this week. Now, we're thinking maybe the week after next. If you looked at our calendars, beginning in September they are free of any appointments, obligations, vacations, and anything else not directly related to harvest. It's that time of year! We are all pretty jazzed as it's been a great year for the grapes. The weather is now settling down (what gives with the 103 last week??) and milder temps are predicted for the upcoming week - maybe in a little cool drizzle - woo hoo!

You may not have noticed, but I have been "absent" of late. Our son got married on August 29 and for the past, oh, year, I have been in wedding planning mode! But it's over, it was wonderful, and I'm back - just in time for harvest! If any of you are curious about the nuptuals, click here - it's a video made by Jason Aaron Goldfarb (www.originalworksonline.com) and he is pretty fantastic. He's our daughter's friend and this was his wedding gift to them. Chantico,http://www.viddler.com/player/9964d22e/

Dawn Gorman of Ohio! The winning slogan is: "If I've Only One Life, Let me Life it as a Cab" and the front slogan, also from Dawn, is, "Magically Delicious"

Thank you to everyone who entered the Dry T-Shirt Contest this year. There were many great entries and we always put them away for review for next harvest - and if yours is chosen, yes, you still get a bottle of our current vintage and of course a (dry) t-shirt!

We are about to enter harvest next week - keep your ears perked and eyes peeled as I may try to upload video so you can really get up close and personal - without having to get sticky or purple!

It’s mid-August and it’s that time – say it with me! What time is it?? WHAT TIME IS IT? I can’t hear you??!!! Yes, that's right, it’s DRY T-SHIRT CONTEST TIME!

For the Harvest 2008 t-shirts, Colleen Riordan of Georgia won the bottle of Anomaly Vineyards Cabernet with the slogan:YOU PICKED A VINE TIME TO LEAVE ME LUCILLE. The Runner-up was Malcolm Roberts of Berkeley, California who won the front of the t-shirt logo with, "Picked, Pressed and Poured."

What will be the 2009 t-shirt slogan? Let’s take a walk down memory lane, shall we?

In 2007, the winning slogan was "Anomaly, It's More Than Just A Crush" 2006's winning slogan was "Cluster's Last Stand", and previous winners were Tanks For The Memories; Picky, Picky, Picky; and Think Globally, Drink Anomaly!

The winning slogan-writer gets not only a T-Shirt with the winning slogan, but also a bottle of 2006 Anomaly Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon. So put on your thinking caps and send 'em in. You can send in as many as you like, but hurry, harvest is just around the corner! Oh please, say it ain't so….! Send your entries to: Linda@Anomalyvineyards.com

Our Team Anomaly will vote on the winning slogan and the winner will be notified by email and by a snail mail package. The runner up gets the same prize!

Get those creative juices (preferably cab juice) flowing, and we look forward to your entries! As always, Chantico.

Last week, Joe Delia, one of our favorite customers, made the ultimate sacrifice—he and his wife, Terri, invited seven guests to a filet mignon dinner where they poured every year of Anomaly made to date - seven years for seven guests (well, nine actually!). He shared the above photo as proof as well as the following comments:"I think you can tell from the smile on my face that we had a great time! Thank you for creating a truly outstanding product!!

The 2000 was considered to be the favorite. Silky smooth tannins and fruit forward, it was a delicious bottle which started the tasting off with a bang.

The '04 and '03 (in that order) were judged to be the best accompaniment to the dinner.

Best Regards, Joe Delia"

Joe and Terri - thank you so much for sharing this moment with us. And as always, Chantico!

Well, see for yourself! The vineyards are thriving. We have been very fortunate not to have had any rain during the flowering period (sort of like the "mating" period for grapes!) so the little tiny grapes have begun to form on the vines reminding us that harvest will soon be here. Chantico!

Is happening over at Anomaly Vineyards? Why haven't you heard from The Blogger? Well, I'll tell you - we are here and things are good. We haven't (and I use the term "we" loosely - as it should say "I" but I'm too embarrassed to incriminate myself) blogged in a while, I know, I mean, "we" know. . And the reason for lack of writing is that our youngest son, Chris, is getting married and I am deep into wedding planning mode. Okay, that is not a good excuse, but it's the best I have.

Hope the Spring is treating you well and I will "try" to write more often. I promise.Chantico!

So, to continue my "oh so informative" blog of a few moments ago....The Meals on Wheels Star Chefs & Vintners event will be held this Sunday, May 17, 2009, at the Festival Pavilion, in San Francisco's Fort Mason Center

Chef Nancy Oakes of Boulevard will once again lead the most illustrious line-up of culinary talents, along with the most celebrated vintners of Northern California - Anomaly included! Please come by.

Steve and I are heading to the Southland (read: Los Angeles) this Saturday for the annual Winemasters auction for Cystic Fibrosis. This event, spearheaded by Barbara and Allen Balik (genius organizers) is a benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It is held at Warner Brothers Studios and is one of our very favorite charities and events. if you find yourself in the LA basin.... please come to the event and stop by to say hi and share a glass of Anomaly with us.

In other Hot of the Presses news, Gerich will be pouring the 2006 Anomaly at the annual Meals on Wheels - Star Chefs & Vintners gala to be held this month - but Gerich, I need the exact date... .Gerich? Gerich.... GERICH....!

Every year (and sometimes more often than that) we do an Anomaly Retrospective. Mark lines up all of the vintages of Anomaly, covers the bottles in brown bags to disguise the years, and we do a blind tasting. Not only is it fun, but it's quite eductional to see how the wines have aged. He even snuck a barrel sample of the 2007 into the tasting. I am pleased to report that we loved the 2007 and it ranked quite high on all our palates. Here's a shot of Seth doing what we like to call, serious work! Chantico.